We love a graphic novel with an excellent backstory behind it, and Host Mortem actually has one. This extraordinarily meta guide will not be solely impressed by basic movie noir like The Big Sleep, it is written by and stars two former hosts of the Carmen Sandiego recreation reveals, Kevin Shinick and Greg Lee.
With the Kickstarter campaign for Host Mortem now live, IGN can solely debut a brand new preview of the graphic novel. Check it out within the slideshow gallery beneath:
Host Mortem is created and written by Shinick, who beforehand hosted Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? earlier than happening to jot down for reveals like Robot Chicken and comics like W.E.B. of Spider-Man. Lee was beforehand the host of Where In the World Is Carmen Sandiego? The guide is illustrated by Damien Torres (Marvel Crisis Protocol) and Andrea Schiavone (Gangsters Versus Nazis), coloured by Pippa Bowland (Judge Dredd, Project Cryptid), and lettered by Taylor Esposito (Red Hood and The Outlaws).
Host Mortem sees Shinick and Lee dragged by way of time after an ill-fated Comic-Con look. Arriving in 1947, they discover themselves embroiled in a homicide thriller involving the celebs of The Big Sleep, and solely Shinick and Lee’s huge data of Hollywood trivia can save them.
“I feel what Kevin’s provide you with is solely sensible and it continues to be a blast simply attending to be a small a part of it,” stated Lee in a press release. “With his hilarious and nuanced writing I really really feel I’ve frolicked in 1947. Why I didn’t purchase some potential inventory or at the very least win an Oscar pool whereas I used to be there’s past me. Instead, Kevin places me in the midst of a homicide scene and expects me to depend on my recreation present trivia to assist him clear up the crime. But the true crime is that we don’t know the very first thing about being detectives so it’ll most likely come right down to one thing random like figuring out Humphrey Bogart’s center identify. (It was DeForest, by the best way. A truth I do know as a result of I’m a recreation present host and never a detective!) Luckily, Kevin’s an incredible pal and a gifted author, so this challenge is nothin’ however “win-win-and extra win” for me and, if I’m being trustworthy, for all our backers and readers.”
“Working on Host Mortem has been the largest and most rewarding story of my profession to date,” stated Torres. “Comics has been my dream, however movie is my old flame, and I’ve been afforded the chance to carry that love into this graphic novel. As somebody who’s a fan of the likes of Sean Phillips, Greg Smallwood, Lee Weeks, David Mazzucchelli, and Alex Toth to call a number of, channeling using heavy black has been key to nailing the noir tone. Researching the Nineteen Forties and grounding the scenes with iconic LA landmarks has helped carry pages to life, and I’ve labored to make that authenticity present by way of in every panel. Watching an excellent variety of Bogart and Bacall movies hasn’t damage one bit both. I’d be remiss in not mentioning how enjoyable and thorough Kevin Shinick’s writing is, and an honor it’s been to work with somebody who occurred to play a component in my childhood!”
The crowdfunding campaign for Host Mortem is reside now.
For extra comics with ridiculous backstories, try our unique preview of the heavy metal-themed Dark Regards.
Jesse is a mild-mannered workers author for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
